It's common for Bellarmine basketball coach Scott Davenport to pull his players into a huddle and provide a not-so-subtle reminder that as much as he'd like to, Davenport can't hit a shot or grab a rebound from the sidelines.

"He's definitely put ownership on us to take care of our business and handle it ourselves," said senior forward George Suggs. " ... He's always saying, 'It's on you guys to do it.'"

Now in the home stretch of their season, the Knights know their task.

"We approach this week just knowing it's do or die," said Michael Parrish, a senior guard.

An overtime loss last Thursday at Southern Indiana dropped Bellarmine from the top spot in the NCAA's Midwest regional rankings used to seed the Division II tournament field. Wisconsin-Parkside, a Great Lakes Valley Conference rival, moved back to coveted No. 1, but there's still a chance for the Knights to get it back.

Bellarmine opens GLVC tournament play as the top seed at 1 p.m. Friday in a rematch with USI. Parkside looms on the other side of the bracket. If either wins the title, host status for games leading to the Elite 8 should be decided.

"We all think we're still in control of our own destiny," Suggs said. "We know if we take care of business and win games like we should, which was our plan from the beginning, we're still confident we'll get to host."

Others from the GLVC in the regional rankings' top 10 are No. 5 Indianapolis and No. 6 Lewis, both also on pace to make the 64-team NCAA field.

Each of the league's tournament games will air live at glvcsports.com/watch with Bellarmine's potential semifinal set for 7 p.m. Saturday before the championship game at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.

A loss to the Screaming Eagles was a setback for the Knights, who with it didn't clinch the GLVC's best record. Both they and Parkside finished 15-3.

"Obviously we're working on things we didn't do well last Thursday," Suggs said, "but the focus is still on coming out here and playing our basketball – passing, moving, rebounding, defense – and that's been consistent for us all year."

The 6-foot-10 forward added that Bellarmine needs to be more physical and less lackadaisical. The Knights led USI by double digits before giving one away on the road.

"We know we're going to get everybody's best shot," Parrish said.

"I think we've got to take what's ours," Suggs added. "We should have won that game, and I think we've got to prove that when we play them again Friday."